LOI FD Season Preview: Kerry FC

With 20 days remaining till the start of the new League of Ireland season, we are going to bring you a preview of each club each day from a reporter of ours on Final Whistle. Check back at Midday tomorrow for the next club preview. First up, LOI First Division new boys Kerry FC. 

Kerry FC bring League of Ireland football at Senior level to the Kingdom for the first time. Led by Sporting Director and team boss Billy Dennehy, a name known to every LOI fan, the club are aiming to establish themselves long-term in the league, building on the foundations already set with a number of underage teams already well established in Irish football. Dennehy, a proud Tralee man, along with Brian Ainsclough and Steven Conway announced plans in June to apply for a licence for the 2023 season, and along with the hard work of many in Tralee they were granted their league licence in mid-November. 

The team will play their home fixtures in Mounthawk Park in Tralee, home to the Kerry District League. The ground is set to hold just over 1000 people. Local clubs Tralee Dynamos and St. Brendan’s Park, who almost everyone involved in soccer in the town at some point came through, both sit adjacent to the ground. A great effort has gone into ensuring Mounthawk Park will be ready for the season and up to league standards, with new floodlights and new seating just some of the many renovations already completed ahead of kick off in three weeks’ time. 

The squad had a real local feel, with a number of academy players being promoted to the senior team along with senior experience from day-one signings Matt Keane and Sean McGrath. Both played in the league last season for Treaty United and Cobh respectively, and are returning to their native Kingdom to wear the green of Kerry. 

As the first player announcements rolled in, Dennehy spoke to us about the importance of local representation, citing his time abroad and with a number of LOI clubs with no opportunity to play at home. 

There is a whole host of underage talent to watch out for in this squad, but one name that has locals excited is Cian Brosnan. A winger by trade, Brosnan has developed through the academy in Kerry and had an impressive scoring record at U19 level. Brosnan has already been noted around the country as one to watch this season by a number of media personnel and for good reason. 

A couple more noteworthy signings include the acquisition of goalkeeper Wayne Guthrie and Trpimir Vrljicak. Better known for winning Kerry SFC County Titles with Austin Stacks, Guthrie also has a background in soccer including a short stint in the UK with Peterborough United. Guthrie shares something in common with boss Dennehy, having both won Munster Minor Football titles with Kerry GAA. 

6 ‘4 Croatian Striker Vrljicak, known as ‘Tryp’ comes in having played for Killarney Celtic, a club well known to those in the FAI Junior Cup over the years. The 22-year-old brings experience having played in the First and Second Division in Croatia before moving to Ireland. Experience at a young age will be key to helping this squad gel throughout the season, as boss Dennehy said, “His experience is huge for us and with his height, he will be a huge threat in front of goal”.

Kerry FC begin their League of Ireland journey at home to Cobh Ramblers on February 17th. The Kerry Cork rivalry has brewed through sport in both counties for many years and it’s fitting that the Kingdom welcome Ramblers on opening night to start a new one. 

Some difficult trips to all corners of the country await, with sides like Waterford and Galway United pushing for promotion along with Finn Harps who will look to bounce back to top-flight football immediately. Many fans have also circled Treaty United home and away on the calendar with the Markets Field being the shortest away trip for Kerry fans this season, some 30~km shorter than Cobh away. 

The people of Kerry, many of whom have supported English clubs over the years due to proximity and ease of access, are already and will continue to welcome their local club with open arms, and understand that we are looking at a long-term sustainable project as opposed to immediate success. So whilst there may be tough nights in Tralee, once the club continues to show growth and the players play for each other and the crest they will be well supported in the Kingdom.